Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro through Lemosho route

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Everything needed For a successfull Kilimanjaro climb!

How to climb Mount Kilimanjaro successfully?

1 Choose the right time.

2 See the cost.

3 Choose a good route.

4 Choose trekking agency,

5 Go to Tanzania,

6 Go to mountain kilimanjaro.

More detail below,  Get a get good overview of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kilimanjaro is in northern Tanzania.

Height of 5895m  Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest Africa

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro needs some planning and preparation to be sucessful or reaching the summit.

Planning a Kilimanjaro Climb

You need to make three major decisions before you can climb Kilimanjaro:

• You have to decide on a date.
• You have to decide on the climb route and length (how many days/nights).
• You have to decide on a trekking agency/climb operator.

1. Planing the date.

Best time to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro are the dry months Jan/Feb and Aug/Sep. but also June and October are good. weather on Kilimanjaro.

2. Climbing route and duration of Kilimanjaro climb.

There are many routes to climb Kilimanjaro. with different length in days, difficulty, cost and accommodation.

See Mount Kilimanjaro Route

3. Choose your climb operator

Mount Kilimanjaro has many lincesed operators,

Good operator provides,  guides, food, porters, water, a cook quality service and camping equipment.

but Bad operator also provide all those just they DO NOT PAY WELL THEIR PORTER!!!

See best Kilimanjaro operator.  Problems Face by Mount kilimanjaro porters

4. Book your flight

The best airport to land close to Mount Kilimanjaro is Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO).

Kilimanjaro airport is between Moshi and Arusha (“safari capital”  Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire etc.)

5. Get a visa

Yes you should have a visa to Tanzania and passport valid for 6 months.

Easiest way is upon arriva in Tanzania. Its cost 50 usd

6. Get vaccinations

Yellow fever certificate and anti-malaria medication, other vaccinations recommended

7. Organising the necessary equipment

If you booked with a quality operator then quality camping equipment is included in the price.

Many Kilimanjaro tour operators also offer other gear for rent, gear that you may not want to purchase for one time use only or may not want to lug around Tanzania on an extended trip.

Equipment you can often rent includes down sleeping bags, insulation pads and down jackets.

Beyond that you will also need very good quality, thermal under and upper layers of clothing, gloves, warm hat, good sunglasses, sunscreen (for the lips, too!), a day pack, rain protection for everything, water bottles/camel back and more.

Most importantly you need high quality hiking boots and they need to be well broken in!

Here is a list of essential Kilimanjaro equipment and here are more tips on packing for Kilimanjaro.

8. Getting yourself into shape

Mt. Kilimanjaro is a popular climb because Kili requires no special expertise or mountaineering equipment. In fact, it is not a climb, it’s a hike. You can walk all the way to the top.

That sounds easy but isn’t!

Read about training for Kilimanjaro and beating altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro. The more you can do in the time leading up to your Kilimanjaro climb, the better.

Kilimanjaro may not require special mountaineering experience, but long distance trekking and hiking experience sure helps! It also helps if you are used to camping out and roughing it, because you will certainly have to rough it when you climb Kilimanjaro.

Only about 50% of the people who climb Kilimanjaro make it to the top. Don’t let that put you off! There are operators who boast with client success rates of 80% to 90%, and they aren’t lying. (Ok, some may exaggerate a bit, but with the right preparation it is possible to tackle Kili with a higher than 90% success chance.)

In nearly all cases of failed summit attempts the reason for failure is altitude sickness. Read up on beating altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro.

Whether you reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is not a matter of luck, not of age, not of previous fitness or experience. It’s entirely up to you. You need to be willing to do the research and to invest the time and money it takes.

How to Prepare for you Kilimanjaro Adventure

You need to do some preparation before you can climb Kilimanjaro:

• You need to book your flights.
• You need to organise your visa.
• You need to get the required vaccinations.
• You need to buy or rent the necessary equipment.
• You need to get yourself into shape.

If my mother can climb Kilimanjaro, anybody can!

Kilimanjaro National Park: Fees

Like most entry fees in northern Tanzanian parks, the entry fees for Mount Kilimanjaro National Park are astronomical.

It is not something that needs to concern you, as this fee is included in the price when you book a Kilimanjaro climb.
It is, however, interesting to know…

Kilimanjaro Park Fees

You pay once

Rescue Fee: $20

You pay per day

Your Entry Fee: $70 (listed as “Conservation Fee”)
Guide and Porter Entrance Fees: TZS 3500 (about $1.70 and includes entry and camping/hut fees)

You’ll end up with 3-5 staff per climber, depending on the size of your group.

You pay per night

Hut/Camping Fee: $60/$50

The prices are valid until June 2018. You can look up all Kilimanjaro fees yourself on the Tanzania Parks page (PDF).

Add up those figures and work out how much of the whole cost of your Kilimanjaro climb goes towards park fees.

Now look at the whole price for your climb and work out what’s left to pay guides and porters, for your equipment and food, the maintenance of the gear, the transfer vehicles, the training of the staff, etc. Not to mention admin staff, licensing fees (thousands per year) and other overheads the operators have to cover.

For the cheapest sensible option, a six day/five night climb, your park fees already add up to around $800! Let’s see where the rest of your money goes…

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – Cost and Prices

(Note: If you are after  a quote, a specific price for a climb, please go to this page.)

The true price of a cheap Kilimanjaro climb

What does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro, and what should a Kilimanjaro climb cost you?

The prices for Kilimanjaro climbs vary wildly. To climb Kilimanjaro can cost you anything from $1000 to $4000 and above.

(There are some operators advertising cheap Kilimanjaro climbs that cost below $1200. Don’t go there. Actually, don’t go below $1700. You’ll see why.)

That is the cost of your Kilimanjaro climb itself. It does not necessarily include you accommodation before and after, it definitely does not include the equipment you need to buy, the vaccinations, the flight…

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not a cheap holiday!

Of course you try to save money where you can. The temptation is big to go hunting for the cheapest Kilimanjaro climb.

DON’T! Do not start your search for a Kilimanjaro climb by looking at the cost first.

If you do, you may end up paying the ultimate price, or someone else may have to pay it for you…

Every year both climbers and porters die on Kilimanjaro. Needlessly.

Also, was it really such a great buy if you then fail to make it to the summit? Would you really feel good to know that children have to go hungry or aren’t able to continue their education, just so you could save a few bucks?

I didn’t think so.

Few tourists are aware why the cost of climbing Kilimanjaro is so high and where the budget operators cut corners to drop the prices. Let’s look at where your money actually goes, what you pay for, and why.

The true cost of a Kilimanjaro climb

Several hundred climb operators are competing for business on Kilimanjaro, which has resulted in a cut throat price war. Good for you, you may think. Drops the prices.

Well, sure, it does,. But if operators drop prices they also have to cut expenses to stay profitable.

The steep Kilimanjaro National Park fees are something that nobody can change. For a six day/five night camping trek you pay about $800 in fees alone!

So where can operators save? And how does it affect you?

The links and information below will shed some light on that.

The very first place where budget Kilimanjaro operators will cut costs is staff expenses. And I am not talking about the lovely lady in the office who takes your booking. I am talking about the porters.

Booking a cheap Kilimanjaro climb? The money you save is coming straight out of the pockets of your Kilimanjaro porters, and porters’ wages are not the only place where money is saved at their expense. Read that page before you book a cheap Kilimanjaro climb!

Of course, all other staff on a budget climb are also paid less and treated with less respect. Few staff on Kilimanjaro climbs have permanent or at least reliable employment. Most of them freelance.

If someone does not get decent pay, does not get appreciated and has no idea who he will work for next time, how do you think that affects their motivation? How much will they care if you reach the summit or not? And whether you enjoy the experience or not?

Also, your safety depends on how many guides/assistant guides are on your team and how well trained they are by the company.

Hopefully you will have a great Kilimanjaro climb in good weather and without any complications. But if things turn pear shaped, the one thing you want to be sure of is that your Kilimanjaro guide is one of the best!

A trick of the trade to make Kilimanjaro climbs LOOK cheap is to not include all costs up front. I already mentioned porter wages and tips on the Kilimanjaro porters page, but there are other costs and fees that can be dropped. You will still have to pay the money when you get there! Read carefully about what is included in a climb when comparing prices and be wary of those hidden costs.

Another place where money can be saved is equipment and food. Neither is a luxury!

This is not about comfort for softies and weaklings. This is about making it to the summit or not. If you can’t sleep at night because you are cold and miserable, then you won’t be making it to the summit.

Quality equipment that keeps you warm and dry even in the worst weather costs money. And there is so much other equipment, for the kitchen, the mess tent and more, that budget operators can leave behind to cut costs. It makes the trek physically harder on you and decreases your chances to reach the summit.

The cost of food on a Kilimanjaro climb is not a major factor. Food can be bought cheaply in Tanzania. But carrying food up the mountain costs money. So the quality fresh stuff, the fruit and vegetables, are the first to get cut from the shopping list of a budget operator.

You need quality food to sustain you for the rigour of the six or more days ahead of you. It should be high in fluids and high in carbohydrates. (Important at altitude!)

And it should taste good! You will have no appetite. Loss of appetite is one of the symptoms of being at altitude. But you have to eat. Your body needs the fuel! So the food better be nice. You want your operator to pay attention to this.

How well is the cook trained? And the rest of the staff? What about food hygiene? Training costs money.

Don’t be surprised if you end up with a bad case of traveller’s diarrhea if climbing with a budget operator. It happens very easily and it doesn’t exactly increase your summit chances.

And what about the rubbish? Do you think a budget operator will spend money on making sure it is all carried back down the mountain again? Or voluntarily spend money on clean up crews? Just wait till you see the busier trails and campsites on the mountain.

Environmentally responsible behaviour also costs money.

There are a thousand little things where a budget operator can cut corners and save money. I haven’t mentioned a fraction of them and most of them you will never notice or be aware of. The things I can make you aware of may seem like little things to you, something you’ll cope with, something you can do without. But it adds up!

What it comes down to is that your chances of reaching the summit and your chances of coming back down alive increase and decrease with the cost of your Kilimanjaro climb.

You want to book a climb that is run by mountaineers, people who understand mountains, who understand the risks and know how to manage them. People who care about you, about how much you’ll enjoy the trek, about their staff and about the mountain.

You will not find those people for $1200. In fact, you won’t find them for under $1700. For a six day Kilimanjaro climb, booked in advance, that is the absolute minimum cost that you should budget for, and you will be sacrificing quality of experience at that level (e.g. you will be climbing on a more crowded or less scenic Kilimanjaro route).

Kilimanjaro climbs that cost less are guaranteed to cut corners. But not every climb above $1700 is guaranteed to be a quality, safe one! Not by a long shot. You better do some thorough research if you want to book in that range!

There are other factors that determine the final cost of your Kilimanjaro climb and that allow you to save some money.

The larger the climb group, the lower the price per person. There are operators who put over 20 people in one group. Add to that at least two porters per person, cooks, assistant guides and guides… And you have a whole army trekking up that mountain! I think I’d rather spend a few dollars extra…

A private climb with two people is very expensive, but a group of up to twelve people is bearable and affordable. At least that’s how I experienced it.

What will also determine the overall cost is the route you’ll be taking.The more scenic and less crowded routes are more expensive. That’s discussed in the section about Kilimanjaro climb routes. So $1700 might be a half decent climb up the Marangu route, but you won’t be finding that on the Lemosho route.

And last but not least, booking from overseas is more expensive than booking when you get there. BUT, you have the piece of mind of knowing when your trek will depart, that it will indeed depart, and you have the time to do research and ensure you are with a responsible operator. (About 90% of Kilimanjaro climbers book from overseas.)

Rely on booking when you get there, and the accommodation costs may quickly add up while you try to do your research, organise everything and find an available place on a good climb team.

The Kilimanjaro Porters

There is no doubt that the situation for Kilimanjaro porters has improved in recent years.

That is not to say it’s good…

Sure, the load they lug up the mountain has been reduced from something like 40 kg to hopefully no more than 25 kg.

There is a recommended (but often ignored) minimum wage, and some responsible operators supply their porters with adequate shelter and food during a climb.

Still, the existence of most porters on Kilimanjaro is a miserable one, and one big reason for that is that many clients aren’t willing to pay the real cost of a Kilimanjaro climb.

The current situation of the porters of Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro porters are at the bottom of the food chain. A cut throat price war rages on the slopes of Kilimanjaro and when budget operators cut corners to save money, the porters are the first to suffer.

Cheap Kilimanjaro climbs can only be done at the expense of your porters, period.

Porters are not usually employed permanently. Some quality responsible operators have teams of porters that they use on all their climbs, but most porters freelance. They may walk to the national park gate every day, sometimes for many miles, hoping that someone will be looking for porters.

That’s where many budget operators pick up their porters.

Budget operators do not pay their staff well, in some cases not at all. Porters don’t have many options. There are many more porters available than needed and they are all desperate for work.

There is a recommended minimum wage for Kilimanjaro porters. (As of 2017: Tsh 20000/ $8.50 per day.)
But usually operators pay a lot less, maybe half that.

A porter on a budget Kilimanjaro climb may not get paid at all by the company. Those porters rely solely on your tips to feed their family.

Correspondingly you will be expected (and if needed hassled) to pay much higher tips than you would on a quality climb. Your porters will likely still end up with less money in their hands, since few climbers are aware of this. (And if you pay all tips to the guide to distribute the porters may see little if any of the money.)

Also, picture a day in the life of a porter on Kilimanjaro…

They spend six days on the mountain, climbing in ragged clothes and shoes with 25 kg on their head and back.
After you set out in the morning they pack up your tent and all the other equipment, they race past you to set everything up again at the next camp (sometimes for lunch also), they help the cook, do the dishes, serve your dinner, carry all the water from the nearest stream, boil it so you can have a hot wash…

Porters work very hard, all the time wondering if they will receive any pay for this or not.
It doesn’t end there.

Porters don’t have their own sleeping bags or tents. If they were rich enough to afford something like that they wouldn’t be portering!

A responsible climb operator will have tents and equipment not only for clients, but also for staff. That costs money.

Carrying that equipment up and down the mountain needs extra porters. That costs money.

Feeding the porters in a way that actually sustains them during the climb also costs money, both for the food itself and for carrying it up the mountain.

On a cheap Kilimanjaro climb, those are the first costs that get cut.

Every year several Kilimanjaro porters die, but you won’t hear about it. They die of exposure (freeze to death), a result of the insufficient clothing, shelter and food supplied to them during the climb.

Make no mistake: very, very few operators pay or treat their porters fairly. Some of the big, well known outfitters are amongst the worst. Don’t assume just because someone is mentioned in a big guidebook they must be doing the right thing. More often than not they don’t.

Book a cheap Kilimanjaro climb and you are fully supporting the shameless exploitation of the very people who make it possible for you to climb Kilimanjaro at all, the porters.

For more information on the plight of porters on Kilimanjaro, and for information on very worthwhile projects that are trying to improve the situation:

Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP)
www.kiliporters.org

Your booking makes a difference. Support the Kilimanjaro tour operators who do the right thing

Mt. Kilimanjaro Weather – When is the Best Time to Climb?

The Mount Kilimanjaro weather affects your climb and your success chances. When to climb Kilimanjaro is an important decision.

Bad weather on Kilimanjaro not only makes for a miserable trek and ruins your photos, most importantly it simply makes the climb twice as hard!

You are a LOT more likely to reach the summit if the weather on Kilimanjaro is good.

Mount Kilimanjaro is near the equator. In the tropics there is no such thing as summer and winter. There are only dry and rainy periods. Or “dry seasons” and “wet seasons”.

Climbing Kilimanjaro during the wet season means you have to slog through very deep mud during the first days. At higher altitude you have fog and drizzle, and slowly but surely the moisture will creep into your clothes, your gear, your bones…

A second rainy day on the Machame Route. Not the best weather for Kilimanjaro. © Uta Philipp.

At the top you may have to fight your way through ice and snow. Having moisture in your clothes and everything is not going to help with the cold up there.

But there are other aspects to consider as well. The temperatures, the views, and of course the number of people on the mountain. As so often, there is no hard and fast answer and no single best time to climb Kilimanjaro.

So lets look at the Kilimanjaro weather details over the year.

The Weather on Kilimanjaro – When to Go?

April – June

The main rainy season lasts from the end of March through to mid June. As elsewhere in the world, when exactly it rains and when it stops is impossible to predict. It’s the warmest time of the year in Tanzania, but those months are so wet that many operators simply do not offer climbs in April/May at all.

June – August

The rain gradually decreases, and so do the temperatures on Kilimanjaro. The weather on Kilimanjaro is fairly dry and clear but the nights will be bitter cold. June is quiet, but the number of climbers increases as the year progresses.

August – October

August and even more so September is the peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro. The weather is good with many clear days and warmer than in June/July. You may, however, get clouds blanketing the forest/moorland zone, and on the southern routes you may get rained on on the first days. But once you leave the rain forest behind all is good! The good conditions last into about mid Occtober when the build up for the short rains begins.

October/November

The weather on Kilimanjaro becomes more unstable and the number of climbers drops. As in all tropical regions of the world, the wetter time of the year announces itself with afternoon clouds and occasional thunderstorms. As long as you are equipped to withstand the occasional shower, this should not present any major problems.

November/December

November is the small rainy season, and the rain lasts into mid December. The temperatures have dropped and the rain brings with it all the hazards that I described at the top of the page. Not the best time to climb Kilimanjaro.

December/January

The four to six weeks around Christmas and New Year are the second peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro. Traffic is extremely high despite there still being a good chance of rainfall and thick clouds in the lower regions. It’s not a time I would choose.

January-March

Mid January to mid March is also a good time to climb Kilimanjaro. The weather is reasonable, not too cold, not too wet, and there aren’t as many climbers. The days are mainly dry, beautifully clear with few clouds and occasional brief showers. In March the chances of rain gradually increase as you approach the long rainy season. See above.

There are a few more things worth mentiong about the weather on Kilimanjaro.

You may decide to climb at a less than perfect time, be it because you want to avoid the main rush or because that is the only opportunity you have to take the time off from work. If that’s the case, consider the Rongai Route. The northern side of the mountain is much drier than the otherKilimanjaro routes.

And if you want the best weather on Kilimanjaro but hate crowds, then the same applies. Choose your route wisely. There is less traffic on Rongai, Shira and Lemosho than on the overcrowded Machame and Marangu routes.

The other thing are the temperatures. Photos of people in short sleeves during the climb, or without hats and gloves on the summit, may leave a wrong impression.

The day and night temperatures can be vastly different. In that respect the alpine desert is no different to other deserts in the world. Above 4000 metres (13000 ft) a sunny day may be above 30°C (85F), the nights are still below zero.

One question that nearly everybody asks: just how cold is it on the summit? Or rather, during that night climb? The temperatures during summit night can drop to -20°C (-5F), but be aware that with the additional chill factor of wind the felt temperature may be as low as -40 (curiously, both in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit).

Prepare for the worst case scenario, and then enjoy that everything turns out much easier than expected!

Read more about What it takes to climb Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro Routes – Overview

Advantages and Disadvantage of All Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes

Choosing the right Kilimanjaro route for your climb is an important decision.

There are seven Mount Kilimanjaro routes: six routes up Kilimanjaro and two down.
(Yes, that sounds like there are eight routes. But one of the ascent routes can also be used for descent, so there are in fact only seven routes.)

Several of these trails meet after a few days climbing and share the same path over the last days.

As a result there are only three dedicated routes from the base of Kibo—the main peak—to the Kilimanjaro crater rim.
(One of them, the Western Breach route, is a challenging and dangerous route and not used much. Which leaves only two.)

The routes to climb Kilimanjaro approach the mountain from different sides and they vary considerably in length, difficulty, traffic levels and other aspects.

Below you find an overview of those aspects for all seven Kilimanjaro routes.

Follow the links to find a detailed route description for each route or to see a picture guide of it.

(Here is a more detailed discussion of how those Kilimanjaro climbing routes compare regarding difficulty ratings, quality of wilderness experience, prices and success rates.)

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Different Kilimanjaro Climb Routes

Marangu | Machame | Rongai | Shira | Lemosho | Umbwe | Mweka

Marangu Route

For many years Marangu used to be the most popular Kilimanjaro route. It has now been delegated to number two by the Machame route (see below).

Duration: 5 days, acclimatization day can be added

Advantages:

• Low cost.
• Accommodation is in huts, no camping equipment needed.
• Supposedly the easiest route. (I beg to differ.)

Disadvantages:

• Lowest success rate. (See? Not that easy after all!)
• Very crowded.
• Camping is not allowed.
• The only route that uses the same way up and down.
  

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Marangu Route | Marangu Route Pictures

Return to Overview | Return to Top

Machame Route

The Machame route is one of the most scenic routes on Kilimanjaro. Once the budget operators discovered it, Machame quickly became the most popular Kilimanjaro route.

Duration: 6 or 7 days

Advantages:

• Relatively low cost.
• Very scenic.
• Higher success rate than Marangu.

Disadvantages:

• Higher level of difficulty.
• Very crowded.

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route | Machame Route Photos

Return to Overview | Return to Top

Rongai Route

The Rongai route is the easiest route up Kilimanjaro. It has a reputation as a remote wilderness trail. Rongai is the only route to approach Kilimanjaro from the north.

Duration: 5 or 6 days

Advantages:

• The easiest Kilimanjaro route.
• One of the quieter routes on Kilimanjaro.
• Approaches the mountain from the driest side, best chances of good weather.
• Ascent and descent are on opposite sides, you see both sides of Kilimanjaro. (You descend on the Marangu route.)

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost due to additional travel to reach other side.
• Considered somewhat less scenic.

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Rongai Route | Rongai Route Pictures

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Shira Route

The route over the Shira Plateau has several possible variations.

Duration: 6 – 8 days

Advantages:

• Less crowded on the first days.
• Very scenic.

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost.
• Higher difficulty level.
• Meets the Machame trail, hence very busy on the later days.

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Shira Route | Shira (Machame) Route pictures (the routes join on day 3)

Return to Overview | Return to Top

Lemosho Route

Remote and beautiful, but long and expensive, this route also approaches Kilimanjaro across the Shira plateau.

Duration: 7 – 8 days

Advantages:

• Very scenic route.
• Very low number of climbers during the first days.
• Plenty of time for acclimatization.
  

Disadvantages:

• High cost.
• Higher difficulty level.
• Meets the Machame and Shira trail, hence very crowded on the later days.

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route | Lemosho (Machame) Route photos (the routes join on day 4)

Return to Overview | Return to Top

Umbwe Route

The steepest Kilimanjaro route. Steep with a big capital S.

Duration: 5 – 6 days.

This route is not used much. The Umbwe route is only suitable for people with mountain climbing experience and who are already well adapted to the altitude.

Return to Overview | Return to Top

Mweka Route

This is not a climb route, it is only used for descent. You will follow it if climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame, Shira, Lemosho or Umbwe route.

Return to Overview | Return to Top

As restricted as all of this sounds, there are possible variations. Some of the routes have alternate paths for some sections, you can combine different sections of different routes, and treks can be extended to include a night in the crater itself. (Only recommended to very experienced and well acclimatized climbers. This camp is extremely high.)

Theoretically you could also walk right around the base of Kibo, something I’d love to do.

If you want to experience something different from the offered standard Kilimanjaro routes you need to find an agency willing to organize it for you, you need a special permit from KINAPA, and you need to be rich. (Which is why I haven’t done any of that yet.)

Read a detailed discussion of how those Kilimanjaro climbing routes compare regarding difficulty ratings, quality of experience, prices and success rates.

Go to: What it takes to climb Kilimanjaro

The Kilimanjaro Porters

There is no doubt that the situation for Kilimanjaro porters has improved in recent years.

That is not to say it’s good…

Sure, the load they lug up the mountain has been reduced from something like 40 kg to hopefully no more than 25 kg.

There is a recommended (but often ignored) minimum wage, and some responsible operators supply their porters with adequate shelter and food during a climb.

Still, the existence of most porters on Kilimanjaro is a miserable one, and one big reason for that is that many clients aren’t willing to pay the real cost of a Kilimanjaro climb.

Climbers and porters approaching Kilimanjaro. © Uta Philipp

The current situation of the porters of Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro porters are at the bottom of the food chain. A cut throat price war rages on the slopes of Kilimanjaro and when budget operators cut corners to save money, the porters are the first to suffer.

Cheap Kilimanjaro climbs can only be done at the expense of your porters, period.

Porters are not usually employed permanently. Some quality responsible operators have teams of porters that they use on all their climbs, but most porters freelance. They may walk to the national park gate every day, sometimes for many miles, hoping that someone will be looking for porters.

That’s where many budget operators pick up their porters.

Budget operators do not pay their staff well, in some cases not at all. Porters don’t have many options. There are many more porters available than needed and they are all desperate for work.

There is a recommended minimum wage for Kilimanjaro porters. (As of 2017: Tsh 20000/ $8.50 per day.)
But usually operators pay a lot less, maybe half that.

Heavily loaded porter on Kilimanjaro. © Uta Philipp

A porter on a budget Kilimanjaro climb may not get paid at all by the company. Those porters rely solely on your tips to feed their family.

Correspondingly you will be expected (and if needed hassled) to pay much higher tips than you would on a quality climb. Your porters will likely still end up with less money in their hands, since few climbers are aware of this. (And if you pay all tips to the guide to distribute the porters may see little if any of the money.)

Also, picture a day in the life of a porter on Kilimanjaro…

They spend six days on the mountain, climbing in ragged clothes and shoes with 25 kg on their head and back.
After you set out in the morning they pack up your tent and all the other equipment, they race past you to set everything up again at the next camp (sometimes for lunch also), they help the cook, do the dishes, serve your dinner, carry all the water from the nearest stream, boil it so you can have a hot wash…

Porters work very hard, all the time wondering if they will receive any pay for this or not.
It doesn’t end there.

Porters don’t have their own sleeping bags or tents. If they were rich enough to afford something like that they wouldn’t be portering!

A responsible climb operator will have tents and equipment not only for clients, but also for staff. That costs money.

Carrying that equipment up and down the mountain needs extra porters. That costs money.

Feeding the porters in a way that actually sustains them during the climb also costs money, both for the food itself and for carrying it up the mountain.

On a cheap Kilimanjaro climb, those are the first costs that get cut.

Every year several Kilimanjaro porters die, but you won’t hear about it. They die of exposure (freeze to death), a result of the insufficient clothing, shelter and food supplied to them during the climb.

Make no mistake: very, very few operators pay or treat their porters fairly. Some of the big, well known outfitters are amongst the worst. Don’t assume just because someone is mentioned in a big guidebook they must be doing the right thing. More often than not they don’t.

A line of Kilimanjaro porters moving camp. © Uta Philipp

Book a cheap Kilimanjaro climb and you are fully supporting the shameless exploitation of the very people who make it possible for you to climb Kilimanjaro at all, the porters.

For more information on the plight of porters on Kilimanjaro, and for information on very worthwhile projects that are trying to improve the situation:

Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP)
www.kiliporters.org

Your booking makes a difference. Support the Kilimanjaro tour operators who do the right thing.

The true cost of climbing Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro Equipment List

What Kilimanjaro gear to take and why

Getting the right Kilimanjaro equipment will make a dent in your budget.
But there is no way around it, you need good gear for Kilimanjaro. Being cold, wet and miserable does not increase your summit chances. Trust me on that one.

The Kilimanjaro equipment list below has all the essential gear that you need for your Kilimanjaro climb.

It tells you why you need it and a bit about the different options you have when buying equipment specifically for your Kilimanjaro climb.

(This is not meant as a Kilimanjaro packing checklist. A proper checklist to use when you are actually packing is included in the free guide.)

Kilimanjaro Equipment List

Camping Equipment for Kilimanjaro

• Any half decent Kilimanjaro tour operator should supply the tents. Tents on Kilimanjaro need to be able to take a beating, so if you have to take your own, make sure it is one that is meant for such conditions (extended bad weather, strong winds and very rocky ground). You can not afford to have any leaks or tears, zips that don’t keep wind out etc.
• Invest in a good thermal sleeping mat. Often you can hire those from the operators. (You don’t need this on the Marangu route. You still need a good sleeping bag, though…)
• Invest in a good sleeping bag that’s rated for at least -10°C/four seasons. Down sleeping bags are great. They are light, pack down small and definitely keep you warm at night, but down is of course expensive. Again, you can usually hire sleeping bags, since the real warm ones don’t come cheap and most people will not need theirs again after this trek.
• A sleeping bag liner can help with temperatures. I have a silk liner and it makes a huge difference at the higher camps. I wake up every time it slips of my shoulders. A liner is also good for people who are squeamish about renting a sleeping bag. (Or if you plan to backpack through Tanzania before or after and stay in more dubious accommodation…)You can also get more expensive fleecy liners that are made specifically for warmth and are made from the same material as the filling of synthetic sleeping bags. They may be a good option if you already have a good three seasons bag.

Footwear – Boots

• The most important piece of equipment for Kilimanjaro is a pair of good goretex trekking boots. Some people recommend leather, but leather is much heavier and the weight on your feet makes a big difference in the amount of energy you expend when walking.The boots need to be absolutely waterproof and breathable, very comfortable, and well worn in!!! The very last thing you need are blisters or sore feet!If you buy new boots, make sure they are big enough to accommodate the extra pair(s) of socks you’ll be wearing during summit night.If boots are too tight it hinders circulation and your feet freeze… Also make sure boots are high enough. You will need that ankle support, especially on the descent from the summit.
• Take thick, thermal socks (two pairs) and thinner/normal socks. If your feet tend to sweat you need a fresh pair (or freshly rinsed and dried pair) every day. Salt means grit and abrasion. Make sure you always wear dry socks. Keeping your feet in good condition is essential!

Outer Clothing Layers

• Good Rain protection is also essential equipment on Kilimanjaro. Once your gear is wet you have no hope of drying it again, and there is a very good chance that you’ll get rained on on the first day or two.This outermost layer should be high quality and breathable, and big enough to go over all your other clothes on summit night (when it will keep the wind off and add warmth).Get rain protection for your pack as well. Either get an outer cover or make sure everything inside is protected in plastic bags. (My rain jacket is big enough to wear over my day pack. As for my other Kilimanjaro equipment, I only climb with quality operators who will ensure that while on Kilimanjaro, my gear is protected from moisture. Find out how your Kilimanjaro tour company carries your stuff up the mountain.)
• A down jacket is a wonderful piece of equipment for Kilimanjaro. Not only during summit night but also to sit around at dinner time when your body doesn’t generate heat through movement. (I find the evenings in camp by far the coldest part of everything…)You can’t beat down, but it’s expensive. If you’ll never need it again and if you can’t hire it (I always hire), then a few warm fleeces will do the job, provided you wear some windbreaker on the outside.
• Fleeces are great because they give a lot of warmth for little weight. Two or even three thinner ones are preferable over one single thick fleece, not only because you can better adjust your clothing to the temperatures. The main reason is that the air between clothing layers provides better insulation than the clothes. Wearing many layers is the key to staying warm on Kilimanjaro.
• I certainly recommend to invest in some quality trekking pants. Mine are wind resistent, water resistent (not quite water proof but it takes heavy rain before it soaks in) and they even repel dirt (which isn’t essential, but nice if you spend a few months in Tanzania living out of a pack.) They weigh next to nothing and are very comfortable to wear. I can also unzip the legs and wear the pants as shorts.Two pairs are enough. Make sure your pants are big enough to comfortably wear over several thermal under layers.Don’t take heavy pants like jeans or similar. They offer no benefit, they only add weight and they will never dry if they get damp or wet.

Thermal layers

Thermal under layers have two functions. They insulate against cold and they draw moisture away from the body (they are breathable or “wicking”). But beware, that wicking effect only works if ALL the layers you wear do it. Most good fleeces are breathable and your rainwear also should be.

As explained above, the key to staying warm on Kilimanjaro is wearing many layers, so bring a couple of pairs of long johns and long sleeved thermal tops. I use one pair to walk in and one bone dry pair to sleep in and to also wear on summit night.

I can recommend the Icebreaker brand from New Zealand, because as the lady in the specialist shop who sold it to me explained: “You can wear them every day for a whole month and you’ll still never be lonely.” They don’t smell :-).

Everybody is different in their tolerance for cold, so do use your own judgment regarding how many and how high quality thermal under layers you take. Thermals come in different ratings. I live in the tropics and only the best and warmest will do for me. I also have a nice, comfortable pair of fleece pants to go over the long johns and under the trekking pants.

Whatever you take, do make sure you’ll have dry clothes on summit night.

Additional Kilimanjaro equipment for the cold

You also need gloves and a wooly hat, and maybe something to cover your ears if the hat doesn’t.

• Get a nice, cosy, wooly hat. I never take mine off after the second night. I wear it walking, I wear it eating, I wear it sleeping. Or get a balaclava. You probably won’t want to wear it so much around camp, but it will protect your face if you get a windy summit night. (And you can use it when you rob the bank to fund the whole trip.)
• Good gloves are very important. Your fingers don’t move or do anything on the way up, and since they’ll likely be clutching your walking poles they are very exposed to the elements. A thermal pair underneath and a water and wind proof pair over the top would be ideal.
• Some people say hand warmers aren’t needed, others say they are essential. You know what kind of person you are. Do you tend to get cold hands or feet easily? Do take hand warmers!The little oxygen activated sachets are cheap, take up no room and weigh nothing. The good ones stay warm for 12 to 16 hours and they are bliss to have. Yes, you can use them while clutching walking poles. Just shove them inside your gloves.I myself would not be able to do without them. Do get several packets and if you buy them on Ebay or similar make sure you test them. I’ve seen the cheaper Chinese brands fail to do anything when opened.

Kilimanjaro equipment for warm weather and around camp

• Most people bring a pair of trainers or similar to wear around camp. (I did only once and never wore them after the first night. My trekking boots are VERY comfortable, and the trainers are too bloody cold!)
• If you have light weight trekking pants you don’t need shorts. I sure wouldn’t take any. It’s freezing from the first night.
• You might want some light shirt for the time in the humid rainforest, but beware. The worst sunburns don’t happen on the summit, they happen on day one. I recommend a collared shirt. At least make sure you slap a generous amount of sunscreen on the back of your neck and, if needed, the shoulders.

Sun protection

• Get the best sunscreen money can buy and start using it from day one. Don’t underestimate the power of the sun at altitude. Even 2000 m or 7000 ft is enough altitude to make a serious difference in the amount of damaging UV rays that reach your skin.
• Also get something for your lips! Lips do not have pigmentation to protect them from the sun, and the wind, dust and dry air will also punish them.
• And get some very good sunglasses, especially for the summit day. You don’t want to become snow blind. Wrap around glasses or glasses with side protection are best, not only to keep out as much harmful radiation as possible, but also to protect your eyes from wind and dust.
• Take a sun hat or cap for the first days. You’ll need it for the rest of your stay in Tanzania anyway.

Toiletries

• Don’t go overboard! Toothbrush, toothpaste, a little soap, deodorant and a mini towel are all the toiletries you’ll have use for.
• Talking of towels, don’t take the beach towel you brought for Zanzibar up on the mountain. Once it’s wet it won’t dry again. The ultralight travel towels really come into their own on Kilimanjaro.
• Take enough toilet paper!
• And girls, the altitude can play havoc with your monthly cycle, so bring whatever you need, just in case.

Other Kilimanjaro Equipment

• Walking poles are must have equipment on Kilimanjaro, especially for the way down. If you’ve never used poles before, get used to them on the way up, so they will protect your knees on the way down.After rejecting poles for years as something for oldies or city slickers with too much money, I eventually tried them for the sake of my knees. I took to using poles like a fish takes to water. Why did nobody ever tell me that they save your legs 30% energy on the way up? I don’t climb any mountains without them now. But my mom needed three treks at home until she got used to hers…I don’t think you need any fancy poles. Wooden sticks did the job in the past and did it well. Collapsible poles are handy if you lug your own around the world, but you can hire poles from your operator or even get them at Machame or Marangu gate (though it may be the old style wooden version…)
• A head torch is essential during summit night and also comes in handy around camp. Take enough batteries and keep them warm on summit night as batteries like to die in the cold.
• Most people carry water bottles for about three litres. Two litres is the absolute minimum. (Some people say you need more on summit day, we always needed less. This does depend on your personal needs. People who naturally sweat a lot will need more.)You will be able to refill your bottles during the day and in the evenings. The only exception is the summit attempt when your water has to last you to the peak and back down to camp.Most people prefer platypus type water bladders/camel backs. It makes it easy to drink as you’re walking. (Actually, easy is not the right word, because at altitude you will find it hard to walk and to hold your breath while drinking and to expend the extra energy to suck out of that bladder, all at the same time… Just you wait :-).)Still, most people find a camel back is more convenient than having a bottle in your pack.I never used a camel back. I can’t stand those things. I carry one or two smaller bottles on the outside of my pack where I or a climbing partner can easily get to them, and refill or change them during breaks.If you do get a camel back make sure it is fully insulated, including the tubing. Also make sure that during the summit night you ALWYAS blow the water back into the bladder or it will freeze in the tube and mouth piece.Add a Sigg style metal/aluminium water bottles to your Kilimanjaro equipment list. Why? They double as hot water bottles at night. (All water on Kilimanjaro needs to be boiled for drinking, and your team should boil a big tub every night to fill all bottles.)Wrap any damp clothing items that you want to dry around the bottle and shove it in the bottom of your sleeping bag before you climb in. Bliss, and your clothes are dry in the morning.
• Most Kilimanjaro equipment lists recommend water filters or purification tablets. I don’t see the point. Your team should be boiling enough water for drinking for everyone. Before you buy any additional filter or tablets, consider that all your food and the soup and the tea and coffee etc. is also made with water that has only been boiled.As long as the water has been boiled properly it is safe.Having said that, if you climb with one of the budget operators, DO take a filter or iodine tablets. (Purification tablets need to be iodine, not chlorine.) Carrying all the water and boiling it costs money for porters and fuel, so on budget climbs you need to get and purify much of your water yourself. Even if they don’t make you get it, it is safer to purifiy your own. Depending on your other plans you may also need a filter/tablets before and after your climb.

You should also have a medical kit in your Kilimanjaro equipment, especially when doing budget climbs! I will write a separate page about that.

Next: Kilimanjaro Packing Tips

What it takes to climb Kilimanjaro